[08] Columnist in Milliyet warns of the possibility of the division of
Cyprus if no solution is found to the Cyprus problem by the second half
of 2012

The main issue in today's Turkish Cypriot press is the huge explosion
that tore through the Naval Base in Mari killing 12 people, which is
covered with extended articles and photos. Statements by Eroglu in the
Turkish private channel NTV evaluating the Cyprus talks, statements by
former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on the Geneva meeting,
the ongoing demonstrations in the occupied area and other domestic issues
are also covered.

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (12.07.11), in its front page under the title:
"The lies may end", publishes an interview with Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu in the Turkish private channel NTV evaluating the Geneva
tripartite meeting and the Cyprus problem.

Eroglu said that October will be an important month regarding the Cyprus
problem, adding that the negotiations may come to an end.

Noting that the Greek Cypriot side wants to discuss together the issues
of property, territory and refugees, and the Turkish Cypriot side wants
to discuss these issues separately, Eroglu said: "We said 'if we agree
on the property issue, we will discuss the territory issue'. The Greek
Cypriot side did not accept it. We also said that we can discuss the
territory issue at the last summit. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
was satisfied from our proposals."

Referring to the property issue, Eroglu said that as Turkish Cypriot side,
they presented three proposals under the title "exchange, compensation,
return" and pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side should study them
well.

Noting that it is not possible to return neither to the period of 1974
nor to the 2004 referendum, Eroglu said that the Greek Cypriots reject
all their proposals with pretexts.

Noting that the recent visit of Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ahmet Davutoglu as well as the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan to attend the 20th July "celebrations" of the Turkish
invasion in Cyprus showed that Turkey gives great importance to the
Turkish Cypriots and to the breakaway regime, Eroglu said that Erdogan's
visit is important in terms of the message he will deliver both to the
world and to the Greek Cypriot side.

Replying to a question whether Erdogan will visit the fenced off town
of Varosha during his visit, Eroglu said that the cleaning of the area
was just a routine measure against fires.

Meanwhile, the paper also reports that Eroglu is flying today to
Brussels for a series of contacts with EU officials, like the President
of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and other high-ranking EU
officials. During his contacts, Eroglu will be accompanied by his special
adviser Kudret Ozersay and the so-called presidential undersecretary
Hasan Gungor.

Moreover, illegal Bayrak television (online, 11.07.11) reports that
Eroglu, during a meeting with representatives of "retired combatant
associations", said that he is carrying out the negotiations by drawing
lessons from experiences of the past, adding that he is working towards
reaching a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem

He also pointed to "the importance of being able to live freely and
under the protection of the TRNC". Alleging that the Turkish Cypriots
are a sovereign "people" which knew how to defend its rights, Eroglu
said he is fully conscious of what the people wanted, when negotiating
with the Greek Cypriot side.

Eroglu said: "We think that the world should understand that we have
the right of self-determination". He also stressed the importance of
maintaining unity and solidarity with Turkey.

Under the title: "I want Eroglu to succeed at the talks", Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (12.07.11) reports on statements by former Turkish Cypriot
leader Mehmet Ali Talat who evaluated yesterday to a group of journalist
the ongoing negotiation process in Cyprus.

In his statements, Talat, inter alia, said that he wants Eroglu to be
succeeding at the talks and wished for a solution to be found to the
Cyprus problem. Talat further said that his is of the opinion that in
case that Eroglu will not succeed at the talks, it is the Turkish Cypriot
community that will lose.

Saying that although he wishes to Eroglu to be succeeding at the talks,
he considers that Eroglu does not believe to the solution, that he is
reluctant while his is carrying out negotiations and said that Eroglu
is looking forward to bring the process to a negative end.

Stating that the ongoing negotiation talks today continue under the
basis which was established during the period he was participating at
the talks, Talat said: "However; there is a great difference. We were
the side which had shown flexibility and the side which dragged the Greek
Cypriots. Today, we do not see this happening. The Turkish Cypriot side
is not now in the position of dragging the Greek Cypriots".

Alleging that the Greek Cypriot side is not willing for a solution,
Talat said that it is a precondition for the Turkish Cypriot side to
undertake a riveting role.

Commenting on the recent statement by Eroglu that "this job either will
finish in October or it will finish", Talat said that Eroglu's words
were very significant and added: "What does this means? It means that
the process will finish either positively or negatively and according to
my point of view, Eroglu looks forward for the process to end negatively".

Accusing President Christofias of not being willing for the solution,
Talat alleged that Christofias is afraid of the division of the island
and added that he is afraid of being accused.

Referring to the "opening" made by the Turkish Cypriot side "for bringing
to discussion at the talks the territory issue but with no maps", Talat
said that discussing the territory issue without maps is meaningless.

Commenting on the Geneva summit, Talat said that two new and important
results came up from the summit. Saying that he found it positive the
fact that it was decided for the process to be intensified, he added
that the other positive issue that is very important is the enhancement
of the UN's role.

Referring to the words which are used from time to time by some that "We
are not obliged to a solution, we have alternatives", Talat said that
he disagrees with the above view and added that it is their obligation
to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Talat expressed also the view that Turkey is willing for a solution to the
Cyprus problem and added the following: "Turkey is administrated by clever
persons. I believe that they want the solution of the Cyprus problem. Of
course, they do not want to be oppressed. It is natural for them to think
the interest of their country first. If we see this from our point of
view is natural and there is no difference between them and us. We are
also thinking of our country, we may make some concessions but Turkey
will ask for things that will not harm the interest of the country?. The
important thing is to find a common ground and reach a solution".

(AK)

[03] Eroglu and Kucuk conveyed their condolences to Christofias and
offered electricity

Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (12.07.11) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
leader Dervis Eroglu called on Cyprus President Demetris Christofias
to convey his condolences due to the huge explosion that tore through
a Naval Base killing 12 people.

According to the paper, Eroglu also expressed his readiness to provide
assistance by offering electricity in the government controlled area of
the Republic of Cyprus.

Haberdar also reports that so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk expressed
his deepest condolences for the tragedy at the Naval Base "Evangelos
Florakis" in Mari.

The paper reports that the so-called director of the "electricity
authority of northern Cyprus" (KIB-TEK) Gurcan Erdogan, in a statement
to the paper, said that only 90 megawatt of electricity can provide to
the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus.

Columnist Huseyin Ekmekci, writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis
(12.07.11), wonders which electricity can be given to the Greek
Cypriots. He writes that at the moment, when Eroglu offered assistance
to the Greek Cypriot side, there was a power cut in the occupied part
of Lefkosia. He also writes: "We offer electricity to south Cyprus which
we don't have?"

Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (12.07.11) reports that the Revolutionary
Trade Unions' Federation (DEV-IS) held yesterday a strike and
demonstration yesterday morning against the amendments on the so-called
law of social securities. The Republican Turkish Party ? United Forces
(CTP-BG) also participated in the demonstration.

Mehmet Seyis, chairman of Dev-Is said that the demonstration was not
only against the so-called draft bill on social security, but also they
demand the withdraw of all these steps which "threaten" the communal
existence of the Turkish Cypriots.

The demonstrators were holding placards reading "Government resign",
"No to administration with instructions", No to disappearance", "We were
here, we are here, we will be here" and other.

Main issues in all Turkish dailies is the blast in the Evangelos Florakis
Naval Base at Zygi in the early hours of yesterday morning and statements
by self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk that the Turkish Cypriot side
is ready to provide help if it is asked. Other issues highlighted is
the ending of the oath-taking crisis in the Turkish Parliament after
CHP's Deputies took the oath yesterday, Cicek's calling to BDP deputies
to take oath, Fule's visit to Turkey and reports that Ankara has made
a proposal to the EU for the opening of its ports to the Greek Cypriot
vessels and the contacts of the Turkish President to Bulgaria are also
highlighted in today's Turkish newspapers.

[05] Hurriyet alleges that Turkey is to make a second initiative on the
opening of its ports to the Greek Cypriot vessels

Under the title: "Second opening for the ports", Turkish daily Hurriyet
(11.07.11-online) reports that Ankara has proposed to Brussels a formula
before the visit of the European Commissioner Stefan Fule to Turkey,
which provides for the opening of the Turkish ports to the Greek Cypriot
vessels.

As the paper writes, according to the plan, which is similar to last
year's proposal being submitted by Ankara last October, Turkey is to
open a port first, and as soon as the EU lifts the "isolation" towards
the "TRNC", afterwards Turkey will open all its ports. The paper writes
that there was no result towards the proposal made by Turkey last year
due to the opposition of the Greek Cypriots.

According to the paper, the formula as regards the opening of the Turkish
ports, which implements the principle of Erdogan "one step ahead" on
the Cyprus problem and the EU, is the following:

1) Turkey will open one of its basic ports, either Mersina port or
Izmir port.

2) At the same time, Turkey will take guarantees from the EU that it
will lift the isolation towards the "TRNC" within three months the latest.

3) The EU will lift the "isolation" in a period of three months. It
will also launch direct flights and trade communication to the "TRNC"
including Ercan [illegal Tymvou] airport.

4) Turkey will open all its ports and airports for the Greek Cypriot
vessels.

5) Thus, seven out of the eight chapters, which were frozen by the EU on
December 2006, will open and only the chapter of "Agriculture and Rural
Development" will continue to remain in suspense due to the obstacles
imposed by France.

The paper continues and writes that as it was made known, the European
Commission views with a positive look the last proposal made by Turkey
and underlines that efforts are exerted so that the proposal to be
implemented in the forthcoming autumn in case the Greek Cypriot side is
persuaded. Also, the paper claims that the majority of the EU countries
view positively this proposal.

Ankara Anatolia news agency (11.07.11) reported that during his visit
to Turkey, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood
Policy Stefan Fule, will pay a visit to the Turkish Industrialists'
and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD).

In a written statement, TUSIAD said that Fule would meet the President of
the Executive Board of TUSIAD Umit Boyner, and an accompanying delegation
in a meeting closed to the press on Tuesday. TUSIAD and Fule would discuss
steps to be taken to speed up Turkey's EU negotiation process. The
TUSIAD delegation would share its opinions with Fule on the solution
of the Cyprus problem, the visa exemption process and EU's free trade
agreements with other countries.

Under the above title, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (11.07.11) publishes
the following commentary by Semih Idiz:

"The meeting in Geneva between Turkish Cypriot President [as Idiz calls
Turkish Cypriot leader] Dervis Eroglu and his Greek Cypriot counterpart
Demetris Christofias, under the auspices of U.N. Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon, appears to have revived hopes for a Cyprus settlement by the
end of this year.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was also upbeat during his visit to the
TRNC [the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus]
on Saturday. He said an accord by the end of this year could be followed
up by referenda in the first months of 2012, enabling a reunified island
to assume the European Union's Cyprus presidency scheduled for then.

In the meantime, President Eroglu announced in Geneva that the Turkish
side was prepared to discuss the issue of land swap within the context
of a settlement plan, a clear attempt to be proactive on an issue of
high sensitivity to both sides.

As for President Christofias, he appears willing now to allow the
United Nations to play a more enhanced role in settlement talks, an
issue the Greek Cypriots have been shy about since the failed Annan
Plan of 2002. This, along with anything that smacked of a deadline for
a settlement, has been consistently rejected by them.

The reason for this from a Turkish perspective is that they have been
playing for time since 2003 in the hope that their EU membership and
Turkey's membership combined will represent a political carrot and stick
forcing Ankara into accepting their terms in any eventual settlement.

But this failed to work and today the "EU carrot" hardly exists for
Turkey and the Greek Cypriot "stick" has proved without any effect. In
the meantime, as former Netherlands Ambassador to Cyprus, Max Gevers,
noted on Sunday in the Cyprus Mail, the EU is also 'bored stiff with the
Cyprus problem...looking at its watch and going on to the next item on
the agenda as fast as possible'. The simple fact is that the overwhelming
rejection of the Annan Plan by the Greek Cypriots in the referendum in
2003 left the whole issue in limbo. That settlement contained all the
basic elements that will inevitably have to be enshrined in any accord,
including the demilitarization of the Island. The simple question then
was, if the Greek Cypriots were not prepared to accept this plan,
endorsed by the EU also at the time and which the Turkish Cypriots
accepted overwhelmingly in their separate referendum, then what were
they prepared to accept? If it was a question for them of aiming for a
one-sided settlement that did not acknowledge the tenets of bi-zonality
and bi-communality, along with power sharing based on political
equality between Turkish and Greek Cypriots --as the Annan Plan did--
this would never be acceptable to the Turkish side unless some unknown
"force majeure" came into play. Judging by what is being written now,
after the Geneva talks, it appears the Greek Cypriot side may be inching
its way to accepting these principles, including the notion of a time
frame for settling the problem. Still this is the Cyprus of Bitter Lemons
and it is best to take it all with a pinch of salt.

But what are the options if the talks fail this time? Max Gevers laid
this on line also in his Cyprus Mail commentary: No more U.N. mediation,
eventual withdrawal of U.N. troops, partition, the Cypriot National Guard
facing the Turkish army directly, no unhindered exploration and production
of hydro-carbons meaning very serious loss of income for Cyprus, loss
of tourism and services in an unstable environment, a goodbye kiss to
the famous but so far empty slogan of Cyprus being a bridge between
Europe and the Middle East. What remains would be, merely, an island
of love... for some!" Some may add "No more EU membership for Turkey"
also. But in all honesty, looked at from today's perspective, can one
say that the EU membership for Turkey is really on the cards anyway?"

[08] Columnist in Milliyet warns of the possibility of the division of
Cyprus if no solution is found to the Cyprus problem by the second half
of 2012

Sami Kohen, Milliyet's columnist, in its commentary (12.07.11) under the
title: "Between the division and the reunification" refers to the examples
of Czechoslovakia which was divided in 1992 to two different states,
the example of the division of Kosovo in 2008 and the independence of
South Sudan last week and sites also the example of Cyprus saying that
the division is a matter which comes to minds in Cyprus. Concerning the
example of Kosovo, Kohen recalls that there are some in Turkey and the
"TRNC" who are supporting that something similar could happen in Cyprus.

Yet? referring to the day that Sudan was celebrating its division, it
underlines that the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has stated
during his visit to the "TRNC" that the AKP Government supports the
reunification. Davutoglu stressed also the need for the current status
quo not to continue and expressed the wish for a Federal Cyprus to take
over the EU presidency next July.

Kohen continues and writes that in brief, the goal of Turkey and the
Greek Cypriot side is still the "unification"?. but with the condition
that the agreement is to be achieved within the next few months.

Kohen continues by wondering what will happen if no agreement is reached
and adds: "The negotiations will come to an end and everyone will follow
its own way. In other words, in short, the unification will be replaced
by the division".

Ankara Anatolia news agency (11.07.11) reports on the visit of Turkish
President Abdullah Gul to Sofia and his meeting with the Bulgarian
Prime Minister Boiko Borisov. Following the closed-doors meeting,
Borisov hosted a working lunch in honour of Gul. Earlier in the day,
Gul had a meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Parvanov and
the two Presidents appeared at a joint press conference.

During his visit, Gul will also hold meetings with Bulgaria's head mufti
Mustafa Alis Haci and Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, and
receive Turkish-Bulgarian Friendship Group's Chairman Ramadan Atalay. Gul
will attend a dinner which will be hosted by Parvanov in his honour.

Addressing businessmen at the Turkey-Bulgaria Business Forum, Gul said
that Turkey and Bulgaria had the potential to raise the trade volume to
$10 billion. "Trade between the two countries is more than 2.5 billion
Euros. Our first target must be $5 billion and then we must raise it to
$10 billion. We have such potential," Gul said in his address.

In his speech, Gul also said that relations had been boosted during
the past two decades and should be carried forward as the Governments
have the will to achieve that goal. Gul called on Bulgarian businessmen
to invest in Turkey, adding: "We have everything to make things easier
for you. We have minimized the red tape in Turkey." Gul also said that
energy was an important issue for the two countries as Turkey and Bulgaria
were two partners in the Nabucco pipeline, a proposed pipeline to carry
natural gas from the East to Europe. He said: "We will carry out this
project together."

For his part, Parvanov expressed pleasure over the friendly relations
with Turkey and said that higher trade volume could be achieved if
confidence is built between the Governments of both countries. "$10
billion trade volume might be challenging but it is an achievable
target," Parvanov said. Parvanov asked Turkish and Bulgarian businessmen
to increase contacts, adding that tourism could be a very good area to
boost cooperation.

Turkish daily Today's Zaman (11.07.11) reports that Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu was in Iran on Sunday as part of Turkey's recent efforts
to resolve regional issues in cooperation with concerned parties. He
held a series of meetings over the past week with several countries in
the region.

Last week Davutoglu was in Libya where he met with opposition leaders such
as the National Transitional Council Chairman Mustafa Abdul-Jalil and
the rebels' acting foreign minister Ali al-Essawi. It was reported that
Davutoglu's trip to Benghazi is the most powerful signal that Turkey,
which has vast trade interests in Libya, is throwing its weight behind
the Libyan opposition despite its long-time relations with Muammar
Gaddafi. After the Libya visit, Davutoglu had secret talks with King
Abdullah and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in an undisclosed
location in Saudi Arabia where he discussed regional developments.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal said the parties talked about the
social unrest in Syria. Turkey is extremely concerned with the situation
in Syria, a neighbouring country, as well as with similar incidents
in other Arab states such as Bahrain, where Turkey has offered advice
to defuse sectarian tensions, and touch on developments in Libya as
well. "It's just a sort of stock-taking and an opportunity to convey
our thoughts on these issues," Unal said.

After visiting Libya and Saudi Arabia, Davutoglu went to Iran on Sunday
where he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.

The paper, inter alia, reports that according to sources, in addition
to Saudi Arabia and Iran, Davutoglu could also visit Egypt, Bahrain,
Lebanon and Syria over the coming two days, but the itinerary has not
yet been fixed.

Ankara Anatolia news agency (11.07.11) reports that Deputies of the
main Turkish opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) took the oath
on Monday after the oath crisis ended following meetings between the
Justice and Development (AK) Party and CHP officials on Friday and Monday.

In effect, 134 CHP Deputies will take the oath after which the 61st
Government's program would be discussed at the Turkish Parliament. A
CHP Deputy and the oldest member of the Turkish Parliament, Oktay Eksi,
had taken oath and served as the temporary Speaker of Parliament.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that he was pleased to see CHP
Deputies taking the oath on Monday. "When the doors of dialogue are open,
everything could be solved," said Gul.

The Deputies of opposition Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) have still
not taken the oath at the Turkish Parliament.

Referring to BDP Deputies, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said that he believed also the BDP Deputies would come to the Parliament
and take the oath as soon as possible.
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